After several hours of me getting a little jostled around while Rowan ran as quickly as he could manage, his pace finally slowed until he was just walking again.

“Phew, I’m tired. I feel upbeat and energetic, but I can tell my body is tired.” Rowan grimaced.

“That’s alright. You were able to run longer than I’d hoped.” Arden said, then flashed a quick smile at me. “Thanks to your magic, I think.”

He’d put his disguise pendant back on, and was suppressing his magic once more, likely because he was concerned about Bellows’ being on our tails.

It was also possible we might meet other people somehow, and having at least one of us that appeared human could be helpful, especially if we ran into any actual humans. That would beg the question why any humans would be wandering around in the woods, but sometimes humans did weird things. But to be fair, sometimes fey folk did weird things too, so maybe that was too harsh.

My face heated a little at the compliment. Even with the disguise pendant on, he was very good-looking. And without it, well…he was fey, and that meant being hot. But the human him seemed more down-to-earth and wholesome. It had made me lower my guard, and grow far fonder of him than I probably should have let myself be within the short time I’d known him. Whereas with his true elvish face, I knew he could be just as tricky as any of the rest of us, as he’d already proved.

To know that I’d been tricked had hurt, even if he hadn’t done it for any malicious reasons. He hadn’t tried to manipulate me into anything, nor had he ever been anything other than pleasant. But was that pleasantness all just an act? Or was he really that sweet? So far he’d still seemed to be that sweet, but for all I knew, he could still be acting!

“I’m happy to help.” I murmured. “But I don’t think it’ll work a second time in one day. We’ll need some proper rest. You especially.”

“Yeah.” he sighed, shaking his head. “It’s not a substitute for actual sleep, but it’s effective in a pinch.” Arden paused, then sighed, “I think we’ll need to sleep in watches though, tonight. Just in case. I don’t know if our pursuers will sleep.”

“I expect they will.” Rowan said thoughtfully, “Bellows is very fond of his sleep.”

“He is!” I giggled, then told them, “Since I’m literally just sitting here while you two are doing all the walking, I’m happy to take a long watch so you both can get some good sleep.”

“Alright.” Arden nodded. “Thank you. You will still need to rest though. I know you can’t sleep while making sure you stay on Rowan’s back, but if I carry you, you should be able to catch a little shut-eye.”

“Okay.” I murmured, feeling my face heat a little again. The idea of him carrying me was…nice. Very nice.

We walked on. Or rather, they walked on, I was just along for the ride, really.

It was quiet, and I let myself stare out at the trees for a while.

“Marri?”

“Hm?”

“You said you didn’t know much about your magic until after you got separated from your family, right?” Arden asked.

“Yep. I was too young. I knew I had it, but had no idea how it worked.” I shrugged, “That I turned out to be able to use siren-song was kind of an interesting development, I think. It’s important in mer-culture. I…I’d like to think my parents would be glad to know I can use it.” I smiled sadly, “Neither of them could, nor my sister, from what I remember.”

“I…hate to say it, but…I don’t think what you do is siren-song.” Arden said haltingly.

I looked over at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

The half-elvish soldier grimaced, “I mean, I think you can sing siren-song, yes. I’m not trying to take that away from you.” he clarified, “I just…siren-song can enchant people. It puts them into a sort of stupor so their ship runs aground, or whatever. But it can’t do all the things that you do with your singing magic.”

“What…do you mean?” I asked again, very confused.

“Siren song doesn't let you trap someone in their mind with their greatest fears. It also doesn't let you help people sleep, heal, or feel rested. Or basically anything I’ve seen you do with it so far.” he paused, “What you do is…something else. You’re one-hundred percent wasted as a circus performance. We’re lucky Bellows didn’t decide to make you use your voice to enthrall kingdoms into his will instead of just putting on a show for circus-goers. Because, speaking as someone who knows, your magic could be used to great effect as a military weapon.” he paused, “Although maybe I shouldn't have told you that.” he frowned, then shook himself, “I doubt you’d use it for ill. Not after being enslaved to the will of another for so long. I shouldn't worry.”’

I stared at him. “I…I wouldn't, but…you…think I could?”

Rowan’s tone was gentle as he said, “Marri, my dear, you trapped those boys the other day in their minds with their worst fears! You could definitely do more than that!”

I blinked, staring out at nothing in particular, trying to process that information. Finally, I heard myself say, “Well, damn!”

Arden and Rowan both burst into giggles.

“I guess it’s a good thing I don’t have delusions of grandeur, then.” I snorted, managing a smile of my own. “But you’re right, it’s good Bellows didn't realize all the nastiness he could actually get up to through me. Cause if that’s true…well…That could have been bad. Very bad.”

“Considering how much he likes having power over others, I agree.” Arden nodded.

“Is that…what you immediately thought about once you realized my magic was different?” I asked him haltingly. Had he just been interested in me for my magic all along?

“It took me a little while just to realize how different your magic was, but it did occur to me pretty quickly.” Arden nodded.

I looked down at my tail. “Is…that why you decided to get me out of there? To make sure Bellows never realized that?”

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Arden was quiet for a few moments. When he spoke, his voice was serious, “Marrina, I got you out of there because you were being treated deplorably.” he paused, “I had already made up my mind to do what I could to help you, and the other fey folk there, before I knew how strange your magic was. I hadn’t planned on acting so soon, but when I realized just how badly Bellows had whipped you after you’d already been injured when performing your act, I knew I couldn't wait a moment longer. Not that any amount of whipping would be okay though.” he sighed, shaking his head, “The convenience of hiding my smell from any lingering pursuit I might face from the people who had been chasing me was far outweighed by the danger Bellows posed to all of the fey folk he keeps captive. I was unable to think of a way to get you all out of there at once, which is what I wish I could have done. But after having a good look at the runes on your tail-band, I had a feeling I could get around them as long as I could keep hold of them, and since I have two hands, I could get two people out of there.” he cast a sidelong glance at me. “I wasn’t going to leave you behind, and I knew I’d need someone who could help get you out of there. Charlie the dragon was a good choice, since he’s big enough to carry you, but he’s also big and would have drawn a lot of attention. Irving was another option, since he can turn into many different animals, but…I didn’t think that was a good idea, given I knew he made you at least a little uncomfortable with his off-color comments and requests. Serha is sweet and kind, but not really an option because I don’t think she’s very strong or has much stamina. No one else was a practical choice, either. Rowan was the obvious one. He could carry you and you two get along very well.”

I blinked, feeling my face heat. “I had no idea you’d put that amount of thought into it.”

“Give me some credit. I might not be the strongest or the fastest fey person around, given I’m only half-fey, but…I’ve got something of a brain.” he smiled a little, “I like to think that’s why Lear wanted me for his squad. That and my ability to hide my fey side.” The smile faded a little, “Cause that’s an odd trait, I know.”

“Very useful for espionage purposes though, I’m sure.” Rowan nodded thoughtfully.

“Yeah, he made no secret of how useful he thought that would be. And he was right, of course. He himself knows how dangerous something like what I can do is. If he didn’t fully understand when he recruited me, he does now. He was sent to track down some fey man who’d lost his marbles, but the guy wasn’t so far gone that he couldn't not still use the powerful brand of illusion magic he was particularly adept at, and it almost cost Lear his life.” Arden paused, “Although I guess it worked out in the end for him, cause that’s how he met his wife.”

Rowan laughed, “That’s about how it goes!”

“You said she’s human, right?” I tilted my head to the side. It seemed like this captain and his wife had a cute love story.

“Yes. She’s mainly a healer. She helped him after he got hurt, and he fell hard.”

“God that’s adorable!” I giggled. “I can’t wait to meet them!”

“You’ll like them both. And they’ll both like the both of you. Oh, they also have two cats and I expect you’ll love them as much as I do. They’re so sweet.” the half-fey soldier laughed a little.

“Kitties!” I clapped my hands, then almost fell off Rowan’s back and clutched his shoulders again with a loud “Oop!”

“Careful!” the centaur snorted.

I grimaced, “Sorry! Cats make me happy. They sit on my lap and purr cause they think I’m a fish. I don’t care if they think I’m a fish. They’re cute and treat everyone like a servant, not just captive fey people.” A happy sigh escaped me, and I was very aware that my expression was a very soppy smile.

“Well, you’ll love these two. One of them is the goddess-given familiar I told you about earlier. Her name is Diana. The other is a very, very silly cat called Lou. She’s a menace.” he grinned at me.

“Oh! I can’t wait! Are they both cute?” I giggled.

“Adorable.” the fey soldier grinned, “Or rather, Lou is cute, Diana is lovely.”

“Diana and Lou!! I can’t wait to meet them!” I sang.

“I think you’re going to like it there, Marri!” Rowan laughed.

“If we make it there.” I grimaced, suddenly sobered at the thought that Bellows was already pursuing us.

“We will.” Arden said firmly. “And I won’t let him capture you two again. We’ll keep far enough ahead. I hope our burst of running will help us lose them. I can’t imagine how they’re tracking us, but maybe Bellows has someone with a good nose.”

“Well, that wouldn't be anyone in the circus itself. Unless he thought to make Irving turn into a dog with a good nose and have him do it. But he might not trust our resident ogre enough for that. Could you tell who else was with him?”

“I didn’t think to. I was more concerned with trying to figure out if the group I thought I felt was someone he sent. I felt the presence of a dwarf there, and it has to be him, anyone else would be too big of a coincidence. Dwarves don't usually travel with anyone other than other dwarves. It had to be him.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind it’s him. We’re lucky you can differentiate so well between magic.” Rowan shook his head.

“Given the most unique thing about my magic has to do with my own magical presence, I’m pretty good at stuff regarding them, if I can concentrate enough.” he shrugged.

“Oh, good point.” I nodded. “So I have weird singing magic, but that’s basically all I can do, you’re good with stuff regarding magical presences…is there a trade off for you?”

“Well, I’ve already admitted to not being particularly good at illusion magic, so that’s definitely a trade off, but there are a number of other things that I just don’t have much ability in. Like I can levitate a small rock, and that’s about it. I’m not particularly good at shields, which would be really useful magic to be able to use, as a soldier. I’m not a healer, but anything more than a slight skill in healing magic is unusual to begin with, I guess. I do have normal fey speed and strength, which I think I’m lucky to have, given I’m only half, but…yeah, there’s definitely a trade-off.” he shrugged. “Although I’m not totally defenseless, I’m pretty capable with fire, and usually can manage combat with that and my own physical abilities. Lear put me through intensive physical training when he realized I couldn't keep up, magically, with the others. It was good of him to do, because I can still protect myself well enough.” he paused, “And anyone I’m with.”

I tilted my head to the side, studying him. “So you’re saying ‘don’t worry, I can still keep you two safe’.” The fact that he was able to protect me and Rowan, and he wanted to make sure I knew that, made my face heat a little.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Just in too many words.” he muttered, flushing a little himself.

“I’m not too bad at protecting myself with magic, but if it’s Bellows, I won’t be able to do anything.” Rowan said thoughtfully.

“Me either.” I murmured.

“That’s alright. It won’t come to that. We’ll make it.” Arden told us.

We went along quietly for a little while.

“Do you have any magical quirks or things you’re not good at, Rowan?” I asked, now curious.

“Nope! I’m decent in quite a few areas, healing magic aside, but I can’t do anything special like you two!” the centaur replied cheerfully. “Some fey folk’s gift is that they’re competent in many magical areas. In fact, I’d say it’s the most common gift, because what you and Arden can do is more unusual than being skilled in many areas.”

“Lear is more like that, able to use a variety of magic with a fairly high level of skill and power, not to mention a massive magical reserve. But he has some physical quirks that give him even more of an advantage. Wings without being physically small, scales in really protective places, retractable claws, venomous fangs, and a second set of eyes that lets him see heat signatures and magic. It’s…enough to make anyone jealous!” Arden laughed.

“Wow. He must look a little odd though, right?” I blinked.

“He does, but it works. Winna doesn't seem to mind, anyways.” the fey soldier snorted, grinning a little and shaking his head. “And even before he was married he didn’t have any trouble getting the attention he wanted.”

“Well, of course, he’s still fey!” I rolled my eyes, “Even though you’re half-fey, you still have that going for you!”

Arden turned red and mumbled unintelligibly, and I giggled.

Something told me he hadn’t been acting bashful. He was just kind of bashful. As attractive as he was, it was…really kind of sweet.